baribetty

I expected to possibly not to feel hungry for months... more than pain, or gas pain, my stomach just feels empty and hungry. Is this normal?? HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

I’ve posted about how GREAT I felt after surgery, and I really did! Until I got home. I’ve been trying walk, drink slowly, take meds regularly, but I’m in pain. Last night I threw up for the first time which surprisingly wasn’t too bad, pain wise, and it showed me how small my stomach must be. I’m looking for insight in the pain, when did you turn the corner and feel better? Any advice? Thanks HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

Liquid Hycet (hydrocodone) HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

Hi Mamalala, do you remember a certain point when the pain subsided? I was feeling great at the hospital, but I’m in more pain that I am at home. HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

Hi Smiley, How are you feeling? I had my surgery on 5/2, also. I’m feeling pain more now that I am home, especially the incision to the left of my belly button, I’m wondering if that’s where they pulled my stomach out. I’m going the pain subsides soon HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

I feel you gf! I was feeling much better in the hospital than I am now. I am staying on top of my meds (liquid Hycet) which helps with the pain and sleeping. They gave me stomach binder which has helped be supportive to my torso, sitting up is really painful. I’m hoping this subsides soon, I’m feeling kinda sad about how bad I feel after feeling so great. HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

Hi GalNola, I was sleeved on the 2nd! I am definitely in more pain since being home. Last night was rough. I’m experiencing pain when trying to use my stomach muscles when I sit up in bed. Have you had minimal pain the whole time, or do you feel like there was point where the pain subsided? I was feeling really good at the hospital (thanks morphine!) but not so much now. Thanks HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

Hey taoz, how are you feeling? I was sleeved on 5/2 and was feeling great until last night. I’m in a lot of pain and experiencing nausea. HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

Thinking of you! You may be waking up soon! Lots of love coming your way. You’re going to do great!! HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

I am scheduled for surgery on May 2nd... a lot of worries are running through my mind, and one of them is what waking up with be like How was it for you? Thanks!

hi Mary, Waking up was a major fear of mine too, and it was no big deal! They asked my pain level, medicated me accordingly then called my Fiancee back to be with me. It felt like seconds had passed since they’d wheeled me into the OR, and I was in a little bit of pain but I described it as a 4!!! They put me on a morphine drip and I’ve been pushing it often. They also out a binder around my stomach and that is helped with the pain and support as well. You will be fine! Please let me know how you are doing and if you have any other questions. I’ll be thinking of you. You’ve really really got this! HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

Ohhh the good old days! Are you familiar with Schneider’s Bakery? HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

My mom lives in Westerville and went to Otterbein! I think I’ve seen you mention Otterbejn in another post. [emoji5] HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

I was sleeved today! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions about my experience so far. You’ll do great. I was so nervous but I feel really darn good, compared to my fears. HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser Ontario Dr. Chin

Hi All! I was sleeved today, about 6 hours ago. I’m feeling pretty great, I don’t feel like an elephant is sitting on me, or a ton of gas pain. I just sipped Water for the first time and it didn’t hurt at all!

I would definitely move forward! A main reason for me to have the surgery is so I can be a healthy mom and have healthy pregnancies. Everyone throughout the Kaiser process has said I have to wait 2 years, but the surgeon said that’s not true, WLS won’t negatively effect future pregnancies, or delay them. Pregnancy will effect my weight loss, so once I’ve met my WL goal, or lost enough weight to be happy, I can get pregnant any time. It’s more about taking advantage of the great weight loss you have early on, rather than being physically ready for pregnancy. It’s also more likely I’ll have healthy pregnancies if I’m at a lower rate, so it just makes sense for me not to wait!

So excited for you Taoz! You got this! I will be in your shoes tomorrow... eeek!

How much time did you take off work to recover from surgery? I am scheduled for a VSG on May 2nd. (I work from home) Thanks!

How much weight did you lose in your first few months? What was your original weight? I’m curious what rates of weight loss people have experienced. Thanks!

WOW! That’s awesome! What was your starting weight?

After your second Kaiser options class you will be cleared to get your first round of labs, an EKG, and a chest X-ray. Then a few weeks later you’ll meet with the bariatric doctor again, sort of as a check in. This appointment seemed pointless to me. Once you finish your 12 weeks you’ll meet with that doctor again, and get cleared for the psych evaluation and do labs again. You will start Vitamins during your classes, and if you are Vitamin deficient they may put you on a stronger dose (common for Vitamin D, but I didn’t experience that myself) At some point you have to go a support group, too. I went to one in West Covina and it was great- you basically just chat with people who have had the surgery and people just like you, with questions before surgery. Once all that’s done you’ll be scheduled to meet with the surgeon and they will have you do final labs (needed before surgery, Like blood type, etc), and you will get your surgery date! My bari doctor (Dr. Murali) said there would be about a month before I would see the surgeon and another month before surgery, in reality though, I saw my surgeon 2 weeks later (4/20) and was scheduled for surgery 12 days later (5/2/18). I jumped at every opportunity to speed up the process, including calling to see if there were cancellations for appointments along the way that I could grab instead of waiting. For example, I went to my Psych appt at 11am and as I left I checked at the appointment window and there happened to be a cancellation with Dr. Murali at noon, so I did both of those appointments in one day instead of waiting 18 days to see Dr. Murali to be cleared to meet with the surgeon. I lost about 10% of my body weight during the classes but the Dr said as long as you’re making progress that’s what is important, rather than saying “everyone lose 20 pounds”. At the support group they said the people who have lost the most weight get priority, but I don’t know if that is true so much as the fact that it looks good, and the surgeon doesn’t have to ask you to lose more weight or show that you’re serious. My Surgeon (dr. Chin) seemed to think I was doing great. He asked if I had any dates in mind for surgery, and I said the sooner the better, so he scheduled me for 5/2. I was shocked. I overheard a lady next to me being scheduled for August 15, so if you’re flexible let them know! I know this may be a little dysfunctional, but I didn’t diet before my first class and weigh in, and I never took my shoes off until the last weigh in [emoji23]. You want to look good on paper and show weight loss , instead of trying to be as light as possible at the beginning.

YEEESSS how are you feeling??

Got it! If you want to message me on 5/2 if you have any questions about the process, I will check if I’m feeling up to it

Awesome!!!

I have Kaiser (so cal- Fontana). I started my process and classes in November and will how my surgery on Tuesday (5/2/18). My 12 classes were delayed a couple weeks because of the holidays, but I was very diligent about getting into every appointment ASAP, I met my surgeon on 4/20 and he scheduled me for 5/2.